The second thing I do before I travel to another country is to check both the state department's and IBM's websites for any information. IBM listed the country as "restricted" as there is no IBM presence there. The state department was more useful. For example:
Virulent rumors of child stealing and murder for organ harvesting continue to be reported in several different areas of Guatemala frequented by American tourists. Frustration over crime and a lack of appropriate judicial remedies have led to violent incidents of vigilantism.I think I'd like to keep my organs, at least while I'm using them.
Crime itself is a problem too:
Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America. In 2010, approximately 55 murders a week were reported in Guatemala City alone. While the vast majority of murders do not involve foreigners, the sheer volume of activity means that local officials, who are inexperienced and underpaid, are unable to cope with the problem. Rule of law is lacking as the judicial system is weak, overworked, and inefficient. Well-armed criminals know there is little chance they will be caught or punished.The State Department continues:
The number of violent crimes reported by U.S. citizens and other foreigners has remained high and incidents have included, but are not limited to, assault, theft, armed robbery, carjacking, rape, kidnapping, and murder, even in areas once considered safe such as zones 10, 14, and 15 in the capital. To decrease the likelihood of becoming a victim, do not display items of value, such as laptops, IPods, cameras, and jewelry. The Embassy discourages carrying large sums of money. Do not resist if you are being robbed. Victims have been killed when they resisted attack. Assailants are often armed with guns and do not hesitate to use them if you resist.I am working and staying in Zone 10. Here's more info:
A number of travelers have experienced carjackings and armed robberies just after arriving on international flights, most frequently in the evening. In the most common scenario, tourists or business travelers who land at the airport after dark are held up by armed men as their vehicle departs the airport, but similar incidents have occurred at other times of the day. Private vehicles, taxis and shuttle buses have all been targeted. Typically, the assailants steal money, passports, and luggage, and in some but not all cases, the assailants steal the vehicle as well. Recently, many of these attacks have taken place far from the airport, just as travelers were arriving at their homes, or in less busy areas of the city. Victims who did not resist the attackers were not physically injured. If you need to get a taxi upon arrival (particularly in the evening) there is a “Safe Taxi”(“Taxi Seguro”) service from the airport which has been approved by the Guatemalan Tourist Institute (INGUAT). Look for the taxi queue at the airport exit. Coordinate arrival times with those picking up passengers, minimize time spent standing outside in the airport passenger pick-up area, and do not walk out of the airport with valuables in plain sight. Laptops are frequently targeted, so carry them inconspicuously in a backpack or other carry-on luggage. In some cases, assailants have been wearing full or partial police uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police vehicles, indicating that some elements of the police might be involved. Armed robberies have occurred within minutes of a tourist’s vehicle having been stopped by the police.Hm, so even the police can't be trusted. Nice. At least toilets have paper and it can be flushed.
So .. with these warnings in mind, and with the knowledge that I will not be there very long, I decided to leave my camera at home, so no [good] photos. I purchased a small laptop bag which I could put inside my suitcase so I wouldn't have to carry what is obviously a laptop-holding backpack (plus it fits in my motorcycle sidecase).
But, never having been to Guatemala before, I still wanted to go!
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